The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Solutions

  • $10m for Africa’s sustainable energy solutions

    $10m for Africa’s sustainable energy solutions

    All On Partnerships for Energy Access (All On) and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) have agreed to further commit $10 million over the next three years to support innovative, African-owned businesses providing sustainable energy solutions and to expand off-grid energy access in Nigeria on underserved communities.

    This collaboration is aimed at expanding off-grid energy access in Nigeria, with a particular focus on underserved communities. The initiative signposts a renewed partnership between the two bodies as they build on the successes of the previous collaboration which ran from 2017-2022.

    At the signing of the renewal pact held in New York, USADF President and CEO, Travis Adkins, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating: “Our collaboration with All On has shown the transformative impact of off-grid energy solutions in improving lives and livelihoods in rural and underserved regions of Nigeria.

    We are excited to continue this partnership’s important work, advancing clean energy technologies while addressing essential needs like health, education, gender inclusion and economic empowerment.”

    He explained that the new funding will target both existing grantees and new businesses, focusing on addressing key challenges identified from previous cohorts. USADF, he revealed, will provide up to $250,000 in grant funding per selected project, while All On will contribute up to $750,000 per recipient through a range of investment mechanisms to support businesses in Nigeria’s energy sector.

    Also speaking at the ceremony, All On CEO, Caroline Eboumbou, said that the partnership will continue investing in off-grid energy companies to increase access to clean energy for low-income communities, while contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. The programme, she further said, will also drive the localisation of the energy value chain.

    Eboumbou said: “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with USADF, which has already made a significant impact on energy access in Nigeria. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to empower more local businesses and communities with sustainable energy solutions. This collaboration is not just about providing power; it’s about creating opportunities for economic growth and lasting development across sectors throughout Nigeria.”

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    She disclosed that the partnership will focus on empowering women in energy, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting digital innovation, while also addressing energy needs in healthcare and education.

     “By supporting the development of inverters, battery systems, and other local manufacturing components, the collaboration aims to create a more sustainable and locally driven energy ecosystem in Nigeria,” she added.

  • Experts mull development of inclusive learning solutions

    Experts mull development of inclusive learning solutions

    Experts in the education sector have advocated the need to collaborate and design holistic edtech solutions or products to promote inclusivity in learning.

    This was the takeout at the just concluded July edition of Edtech Mondays, an initiative organised by the Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching & Learning in ICT.

    The engagement session themed “Edtech for Diverse Learning Styles and Needs” was moderated by the Practice Lead Education, CcHub, Chinyelu Akpa.

    Speaking during a panel session, Executive Director, Bettelhill School, Mary Akanmu-Bamikefa explained that it has become imperative for edtech stakeholders to design solutions that would support a wide range of learning preferences.

    Bamikefa noted that learning particularly for children with disabilities requires a lot of collaboration between parents, teachers, and learners.

    She disclosed that it was important to engage children with disabilities with interactive tools.

    While admitting that there is no one-size-fits-all for all learners, she explained that educators dealing with children with disabilities must deploy all the platforms to ensure inclusive learning.

    Also speaking, the founder, One Word Africa Foundation, Oladoyin Idowu stated that education stakeholders should consider technology in addressing specific challenges associated with learning among kids.

    Read Also: Obaseki reveals cause of rift with Oshiomhole

    While emphasising the need for edtech solution providers to develop solutions that are not only culturally fit but affordable for learners, she stated that leveraging technology by edtech solution providers will unlock learning for different types of learners- kinesthetic learners, audio learners, and visual learners.

    In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer, Vinsighte Limited, Toriola Oladeji stated that society has a vital role to play in supporting the delivery of quality and inclusive education to persons living with visual impairment, hence the need for deploying OCR technology to create solutions for this category of learners.

    “We have more people who are building from the user point, who understand the specific pain points and the challenges of the people we want to design and build for. We would always have solutions that are viable and are meeting the specific learning needs,” he said.

    Also speaking, the founder, Your Safe Space NG, Toyin Oduniyi restates the need for educational stakeholders to collaborate in the areas of ideas and funding to come up with edtech solutions that are inclusive and holistic in learning.

  • Japa doctors: avoiding rash solutions

    Japa doctors: avoiding rash solutions

    The disruptive effects of Nigerian doctors and health workers migrating to greener pastures may lead the government to consider radical but perhaps counterproductive measures to stem the outflow. The temptation to seek extralegal and unconstitutional solutions should be resisted, notwithstanding the magnitude of the problem. So far, for instance, and by some estimates, over 12,000 Nigerian doctors are believed to have been licenced to practice in the United Kingdom. The figures were not always dire. From a low estimate of about two or three hundred doctors migrating abroad yearly, the estimate has soared to some 2,000 annually. It has led to disruptions on surgical waiting lists, closure of wards due to lack of personnel, unbearable pressures on health workers who stayed behind, and retardation of progress in healthcare delivery.

    As part of the solutions, there are indications that medical training institutions may be encouraged to expand admission quotas. But given the surging demand for healthcare workers in parts of the world, it is unlikely that Nigeria, with its rather retrogressive approach to sustaining and retaining doctors and nurses in its hospitals, will benefit from that expansion. There have also been some attempts to legislate the retention of healthcare workers by bonding them during training to include mandatory three or five years of service before being eligible for migration. This measure would be shortsighted, unconstitutional and discriminatory. Apart from worsening the migration of health workers by its insular economic and social policies, the Muahammadu Buhari presidency also attempted retrogressive and divisive measures to stem the flow of doctors and nurses abroad.

    Nigeria cannot wish the crisis away. So far, the Bola Tinubu administration has not attempted to directly grapple with the worsening crisis. It met a broken economy and to all intents and purposes, an empty and debt-ridden treasury. Its objective is to mend the economy, restore sanity to the country’s finances, and sensibly prioritise the problems. Ranking the crisis low is understandable. Yet, the problem cannot wait; and the longer the disease is left unattended, the greater the danger of it metastasizing. In some forms, the current administration must without delay attempt to restore order in the healthcare sector. But in finding a solution, or solutions, it must avoid the mistakes of its predecessors who either foolishly ignored the problem preferring it to resolve itself, which it didn’t because it couldn’t, or worsened it by administering conceited and heavy-handed measures such as splitting the unions in the healthcare sector.

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    The new administration must understand that the problem is not foreign countries poaching Nigeria’s health workers. Doctors and nurses cannot be singled out for discrimination when they seek greener pastures. And as desirable as expanding the training of healthcare workers is, this will make only a little dent on the crisis, and certainly not in the short run. If the administration is really as bothered as the rest of the country is, it must look for the low hanging fruits of enhanced pay and allowances, which it has been reluctant to pay on account of the distressed economy, while it must staff and equip the hospitals to a reasonable degree. This will mean declaring an emergency in the sector. Retaining the current regimen is nothing but an invitation to disaster. The administration should, therefore, urgently set up a committee to look at the problem with a view to suggesting realistic and manageable solutions. The short-term solutions will stretch the system a little beyond what the administration expects, but it really has no choice. The problem cannot wait.

    However, it is not only health workers that are migrating in droves, university teachers are also migrating with such intensity and severity that it qualifies for a veritable brain drain approximating a tragedy. The past administration mismanaged the university crisis that engulfed the nation in the closing months of 2022. The new administration has made some token concessions to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by offering to pay four months withheld salaries out of eight months impounded by the Buhari administration. The offer was condescending. If the Tinubu administration understands the problem as comprehensively as its election manifesto pretends, paying all the withheld salaries, maybe in tranches, is non-negotiable. More, the payment should be included in a package of panaceas to revivify tertiary education, stamp out strikes, and institute innovative ways of funding higher education and research and development. Government spokespersons have not given any indication that the administration has a grasp of the fundamentals and scope of the problem, let alone the far-reaching solutions the crisis calls for. The past administration broke up the unions, believing that hurting them and depriving them of unity would quench the desire for strikes. Balkanising the unions is meaningless when the issues predisposing the unions to strike have been left unattended.

    Neither the healthcare crisis nor the tertiary education imbroglio can wait for order to be restored in the country’s finances. The Tinubu administration must take meaningful and steady steps to address the crises and forge understanding and build confidence among stakeholders. The crises can no longer be ignored or left in abeyance. The time to act is now, and the action must be sensible, restrained, comprehensive and impactful.

  • COP28: Govt should create awareness on front line solutions

    COP28: Govt should create awareness on front line solutions

    As the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference 2023 holds in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Federal Government has been urged to create awareness on the front line solutions to the climate crisis.

    The call which was made by the Connected Development (CODE) is to ensure improvement in the publics awareness and understanding.

    Programs and Projects manager CODE, Hyeladzira Mshelia, said this in Abuja at CODE’s

    documentary screening with stakeholders, shedding light on the livelihoods, challenges, and advancements within frontline communities.

    The documentary illustrates the detrimental impacts of the climate crisis on frontline communities, as well as the progress made by CODE through the CMC-CJ project over a year.

    Mshelia said: “CODE with support from Oxfam have been implementing a campaign called the Community media collaboration for climate justice project, we have been doing it in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states and the idea is to improve the publics awareness and understanding of front line solutions to climate crisis.

    “We know that Climate change is affecting everybody, last year Nigerians experienced one of the worst cases of flood where lives and properties were lost.

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    “With the project, we formed a coalition of community based organisations, empowering them and building their capacity on how to track climate resilient funds using the follow the money model and ensure they engage with their Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) to find out the measures that the government took to ensure that what happened last year does not repeat itself again.

    “So the call to action particularly now that people are in the UAE for the 2023 Climate change conference, we call on the government to do everything within their capacity, to educate people about the dangers of climate change because people can’t take action if they don’t understand what it is.”

    Spouse of the Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Switzerland and member Green Liberal Party of Switzerland, Raya Schifferle, said Nigerians need to understand that the climate crisis is affecting every part of the world, including Nigeria.

    She said where a country like Switzerland is being affected by the melting of glaciers and rise in sea levels, Nigeria experiences flooding, desertification and a lot more.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    TAYO: What are the modalities of payment for those who joined the civil service in 2003 going by the Pension Act?

    PENCOM: Any employee who is entitled to retirement benefits under any pension scheme existing before the 25th day of June, 2004, being the commencement of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 falls under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). You may liaise with your PFA who would advise you further in respect of modes of payment when you retire.

    ABDULSALAM: My name is Abdulsalam, a staff of Yaba LCDA. I have been with Stanbic IBTC Pension since its inception. But just this month, my pension fund was transferred to Leadway Pensure without my authorisation. Please what can I do because I want Stanbic as my pension manager.

    STANBIC IBTC PENSION: Please note that the policy of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on multiple registrations is the ‘First PIN’ rule which recognises the first RSA PIN generated for a client as the valid one to be maintained. Based on this, Mr Abdulsalam’s first PIN as confirmed by PenCom is the PIN registered with Leadway Pensure. Therefore, his RSA PIN with us was invalidated and the funds transferred to his valid Pension Fund Administrator in January 2019. Kindly note that Mr Abdulsalam was informed of his valid RSA PIN with Leadway via a letter dated 10 October 2018.  We advise that he provides his Leadway PIN to his employer to ensure his RSA is credited timely. However, he can choose to transfer back to us once the transfer window is opened by PenCom. Do note that we also called him today to provide further clarification but our calls were unpicked. We would try again before  the close of business.

    SULEIMAN: I  retired on Level 14 Step 10 in June 1996 And Was Last Paid N59400 Monthly in March 2018. In August that year, I did a new verification at PTAD Abuja only to be paid N43,200 monthly. Thereafter, they say I was being overpaid after all! Is there any table for calculating pension?

    PENCOM: Please liaise with PTÂD who would be able to assist you further.  You can contact PTAD on any of these numbers: Toll Free Telephone: 0800-CALL-PTAD (0800-2255-7823); Telephone Lines (Charges Apply): +234(0) 9-462-1721; +234(0) 9-462-1722.  Email: info@ptad.gov.ng (For Inquiries); complaints@ptad.gov.ng (For Pensions Related Complaints); foi@ptad.gov.ng (For Freedom of Information Communications) Website: www.ptad.gov.ng

    JOEL: I am a former employee of a Federal Government agency. I want to know if it is possible to change my PFA from (Anonymous) to another one. I have been out of employment since 2013, I have over N2m as my contributory pension. I want to change my PFA because I am not satisfied with my current PFA. Is it possible for me to change and move my pension fund to another in my current situation? Thanks.

    PENCOM: Section 13 of the PRA 2014 allows an RSA holder to change his/her PFA not more than once in a year without giving any reason. The Commission is currently in the process of opening a transfer window to enable contributors’ moves from one PFA to another.

    ONYAKA: Sir, does First Pension Limited Still exist as Pension Fund Manager?

    PENCOM: Yes. They are known as First Guarantee Pension Limited.  Their contact details are as follows; Irorun Plaza, No. 65, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, http://www.firstguaranteepension.com

    DSP IZUAGIE: My name is Dsp Izuagie, I retired after 35 years from the Nigeria Police. My gratuity was paid to me in November 30, 2017 but it was less than N1.5milion.  I was told that my contribution was not made available to PenCom for trading. Please help me.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the complainant in order to assist them further.

    ASP. SAMUEL: I have written immediately to the director of NPF Pension. They paid me N4,706, 067: 69k out of which am paid 25 per cent of N1, 176,516: 92k. plus my one year arrears of N366, 701: 18k. if one-year arrear can give me that, multiply it by four years and it will be N1, 466, 804: 72k which is more than what N1, 176, 516: 92k that I am paid for serving for 35 years. My personal savings is more than N1.5 million. What has government given me? My counterparts are paid than me. I am so disturbed. My other colleagues who witness the same fainted on the spot. Even a court clerk and messengers at state level can’t go home with one million? One of my course mate who is a traffic warden, Asp. Monday has N7 million and he was paid over N3 million.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the Complainant In order to assist them further

    LICY: My Name is Abdullahi Mohammed and my PFA is Trustfund Pension. I retired since 2014. I did my biodata in August 2018 and after that I went to my PFA to request for 25% of my total savings but I was told that PenCom did not send money for MDA and I am seriously now in need of money because my children school fees is becoming a problem. Please I need your help. Thanks.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the Complainant In order to assist them further.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    JOEL: I am a former employee of a Federal Government agency. I want to know if it is possible to change my PFA from (Anonymous) to another one. I have been out of employment since 2013, I have over N2m as my contributory pension. I want to change my PFA because I m not satisfied with my current PFA. Is it possible for me to change and move my pension fund to another in my current situation?

    PENCOM: Section 13 of the PRA 2014 allows an RSA holder to change his/her PFA not more than once in a year without giving any reason. The Commission is currently in the process of opening a transfer window to enable contributors’ move from one PFA to another.

    ONYAKA: Sir, does First Pension Limited still exist as a pension fund manager?

    PENCOM: Yes. They are known as First Guarantee Pension Limited.  Their contact details are as follows: Irorun Plaza, No. 65, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, http://www.firstguaranteepension.com

    TAYO What are the modalities for payment to those who joined the civil service in 2003 going by the Pension Act?

    PENCOM: Any employee, who is entitled to retirement benefits under any pension scheme existing before June 25, 2004, being the commencement of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 falls under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). You may liaise with your PFA to advise you further in respect of modes of payment when you retire.

    My pensioner number is Annonymous. I did verification since August 2017, but PTAD has not paid me till date. Kindly assist, several pensioners have gotten their pension. I am a state pensioner with federal share. I retired on 30 April, 2008 without payment till date. Thank you.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s complaint has been investigated. She will receive payment as funds are allocated and released by the Federal Government.

    JOSHUA: Dear Omobola, my name is Joshua. I retired as a Seargent on grade level 05 step 4. My date of first appointment is January 20, 1986 and date of retirement is March 1, 1997. I have done verification in Abuja. Please I am koboless and pray you to tell the pension boss that she should pay my pension. I am helplessly living a tortuous life.

    PTAD: The pensioner’s complaint has been reviewed by the operations department. He will be paid as funds are allocated and released by the Federal Government.

    SUNDAY: I retired in June 2003 from the service of former governmet agency changed to National Clearing and Forwarding Agency. I received my pension from March 2008 to April 2018. But they stopped my pension after April and I don’t know why. Please help me.

    PTAD: If Mr Eshiet has been verified, we advise that he sends a clearly scanned copy of his verification slip to complaints@ptad.gov.ng. If he has not been verified, he can visit our Abuja or Lagos office with his employment documents, BVN and original stamped bank statement from April 2018 till date to be verified and monthly pension payment resumed if eligible.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    LICY: My name is Abdullahi, my PFA is Trustfund Pension. I have retired since 2014 and I have done my biodata in 2018 August; and after that I went to my PFA, Trustfund, to request for my 25 per cent of my total savings, but I was told that PenCom did not send money for MDAs. I am seriously now in need of money because my children’s school fees have become a problem. Please I need your quick response. Thanks.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the complainant in order to assist him further

    ABDULSALAM: My name is Abdulsalam, a staff of Yaba Local Council Development Area. I have been with Stanbic IBTC since its inception. But just this month my pension fund was transferred to Leadway PFA without my authorisation. Please what can I do because I want Stanbic IBTC as my pension manager.

    PENCOM: The relevant department would require the pin of the complainant in order to assist them further

    OLAYORI: Good day, my name is Olayori. I am a retiree of National Assembly Commission. I worked as a legislative aide to a former senator. We left National Assembly in 2011 and I have been collecting pension of the sum of N7872.87 monthly. However, since November last year, the payment has stopped. My pension company is Iei-Anchor Pensions. It will be appreciated if you could assist to find out why the payment stopped.

    PENCOM: The relevant department would require the PIN of the complainant in order to assist them further.

    ADIGUN: My name is Adigun and my PFA is First Guarantee. The issue I want to discuss affects all contributory pensioners, who are Osun State government employees that retired from 2016 to date. None of these sets have received either gratuity or pension since they retired. The real problem we are having is not known as we were being fed with lies by various concerned PFAs from time to time. Kindly look into this and advise us on the way out of this predicament.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the complainant in order to assist them further.

    IBRAHIM: My name is Ibrahim and I work with the Nigeria Immigration Service, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) by rank. My RSA initially was domiciled with the acquired Amana Pension Limited, that was at the time of my documentation at Gwagwalada Para-military Board in 2009. After registering with Amana before it folded up, my PIN was not given to me and I was left in the dark for quite a number of years until IPPIS made me to understand that Sigma Pension acquired Amana Pension. I contacted Sigma and complained. They advised me on a new RSA registration and after doing the registration and given the new pin number, they later called me and informed me of an old PIN that Amana never gave to me. Sigma later advised me to use the old pin, of which I agreed. My complaint now is that, as IPPIS started paying my salary, my pension deduction from Sigma is being updated based on the deduction from the commencement of IPPIS without the previous balance from my RSA hitherto domiciled with Amana. Please I need your help.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the complainant In order to assist them further.

    Abdullahi. My name is Abdullahi Mohammed, My PFA is Trustfund, I have retired since 2014 and I have done my biodata in 2018 August. After that I went to my PFA, Trustfund, to request for 25 per cent of my total savings, but I was told that PenCom did not send money for MDA and I am seriously now in need of money because my children’s school fees is becoming a problem. please I need your quick response. Thanks. I want to know from Omobola pension solution when my friend who started working for the Federal Government at 21, and was retired at 39 paid gratuity; when will she be paid pension monthly? She was retired 12 years ago. She is now 51 without pension. When will she start receiving pension monthly? Thanks for your attention.

    PENCOM: The relevant Department would require the PIN of the complainant in order to assist them further

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    ANONYMOUS: My retirement savings has not been paid. This is my 15th month after retirement and I have not received anything from Premium Pension Limited

    PENCOM PETER: The Commission is processing your retirement benefits for payment.

    BAWA: My name is Bawa. My retirement savings has not been paid by Premium Pension. This is my 15th month and I am yet to receive anything.

    PREMIUM ALIYU: The member was paid lumpsum and arears since December 2018, and now he is on Monthly Programme Withdrawal up to this month of February 2019.

    BAWA: I received monthly pension this year on February 15, which I don’t understand. I have gone back to their office to find out, but they didn’t give me a response until now. Can the company let me know if the money they paid on February 15 is for January or February?

    AYO: I am making enquiry about payment of my lump sum having filled necessary documents some weeks ago with my PFA, Trustfund Pension. But the company is yet to respond. I retired since July 15, 2017 with  harrowing experiences due to paucity of funds. Please, your positive and expedited actions will be appreciated. My children’s education has suffered much setbacks. Your quick intervention will be appreciated.

    TRUSTFUND PRISCA: The customer was paid in 2018 and is currently enjoying pension. We called him and confirmed he is being paid.

    SHITTU: What are the modalities for payment to those who joined the Civil Service in 2003 going by the Pension Act?

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PTAD to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

    MOHAMMED: My PFA is Trustfund Pension Plc. I have retired since 2014 and I have completed my biodata in August 2018, after which I went to my PFA to request for 25% of my total savings. but I was told that pencom did not send money for MDA and I am now seriously in need of  money because my children’s school fees are becoming a problem. Please, I need your quick response. Thanks.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PTAD to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

    Abdulsalam Adebayo: My name is Oba, a staff of Yaba LCDA. I have been with Stanbic IBTC PFA. since the inception of new pension scheme. But my pension fund was transferred to Leadway PFA this month without my authorisation. Please what can I do because I want Stanbic IBTC as my pension manager.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PTAD to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

    ZUBAIRU:I retired on level 14 step 10 in June 1996 and was last paid N59,400 monthly pension in March 2018. In August, that year, I did a new verification at PTAD Abuja only to be paid N43,200 thereafter. They say I was being overpaid. Is there any table for calculating pension and how did they come about what is now being paid to me?

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PTAD to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

    OLAYORI: Good day, my name is Olayori. I am a retiree of National Assembly Commission.  I worked as a legislative aide to a former Senator. We left National Assembly in 2011 and I have been collecting monthly pension of N7872.87. However, the payment stopped since November last year. It will be appreciated if you could assist to find out why the payment is stopped. Thank you for your support.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PTAD to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

    Fatimo: l want to inform you that I have been paid by PFA, Crusader Pension. I thank you very much.

    THE NATION: The Nation is excited that you have received your pension.  Watch out for the newspaper every Wednesday for update on pension matters.

    Balanga: I am a former employee of a Federal Government Agency. I want to know if it is possible to change my PFA to another one. I am out of employment since 2013, I have over N2 million as my contributory pension. I want to change my PFA because I am not satisfied with my current PFA. Is it possible to change and move my pension fund to another? Thanks.

    THE NATION: The Nation will intervene by getting PenCom to respond to your complaint. Watch out for the newspaper publication every Wednesday for your response.

     

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    HUSSAINI: My name is Hussaini, I retired in July 1, 2007 with the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) 1 grade level 9 step 5. I did my screening with PENCOM in October 2008 and all documents indicated my level and steps. In September 2009, I was paid a lump sum of N2.3 million and arrears of monthly N9,577.13 from July to September. I do not know the total amount paid before the said amount was credited to my account. I wrote and submitted a complaint letter to Pencom in October 2010, but got no response. I sent a reminder to Pencom, but still no response. I have been on N9,577.13 up to date unlike my mates, who have participated in the recent verification exercise and who have had both their enlistment promotion and monthly pension increased.

    PENCOM: Please send us your PIN number to enable us investigate your complaint.

     

    EMMANUEL: My name is Emmanuel and my brother’s name is Lucky. My father is Ephiram. He retired on April 27, 2016. He died on May 8, 2017 after he retired as a police officer in Calabar, Cross River State. But the police man in-charge of police pension here in Port Hacourt, River State asked us to go and collect approval from the Court in Calabar, which we did. But since last year, we have not heard anything. Please, help me and my brother we have nobody.

    PENCOM: Please furnish us with additional information such as the deceased PIN number to enable us give you an updated information.

     

    UMAR: I have retired from Nigerian Prison Service voluntary after serving for 30 years. I attended my workshop with PenCom in Gombe State. From 21/7/2016 up to date, I was not paid. Why?

    PENCOM: Please provide us with additional information such as your PIN number and your PFA.

     

    Alfa: Sir, I am a member of staff of NTA with Pen 100327455777. IPPIS erroneously remitted my contributions between March to December 2012 to NLPC PFA instead of PAl, NLPC even admitted in their report dated 21/02/2014, but refused to remit my money to PAL. I wrote several letters to Pencom, but no response. Please use your platform for me. Thanks.

    PENCOM: You should forward your complaints to IPPIS for appropriate action.

     

    Ekong: Good day, my name is Ekong. I have a problem with the payment of my Federal share of gratuity and pension since 1996. I have done several verification exercises

    THE NATION: The paper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

     

    ODUKOGA: Please save me                 from hunger. l am Odukoga. I was retired in 2006, after servicing for 35 years in the Federal Ministry of Finance and was only paid my gratuity. l have not been paid any monthly pension. l was verified in September 2017 by PTAD, cleared and captured in their scheme. Kindly help me so that l can be placed on monthly pension and my pension arrears paid from July 2006. Waiting to hear from you soonest.

    THE NATION: The paper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

     

    Mrs. Ekpenyong: I am  a n88 year-old  widow with very serious sight and other health challenges, which require very urgent and regular medical attention. I cannot access the said medical treatment due to lack of funds hence, my appeal and prayer to your humane disposition. I need your help regarding the arrears of short-payment of my monthly pension allowance for 14 years (2003-2016). I retired from Ministry of Health, Cross River State as a midwife tutor. Kindly help me fast-track the process to enable me get paid urgently so that I can regain my health. Mrs. Ekpenyong.

    THE NATION: The paper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

     

    OLORUNWO: My name is Johnson. I wish to complain to PTAD Executive Secretary that my pension since August, 2008 is yet to be paid till date. Kindly check your records and make the said amount payable to alleviate my financial burden. Thanks

    THE NATION: The paper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    AIYESIMI: Good day Omobola, I am a retired police officer. Please help me to appeal to PenCom to approve Leadway to pay me my benefit. I have been suffering for the past three years. PenCom should urgently attend to Leadway so that they can pay me. Please do not let me die of hunger.

     

    LEADWAY AIYEDUN: Dear Aiyesimi, cases like these are actually dependent on PENCOM. Do you have contact details of the client?

     

    ANNONYMOUS: I am a retiree of the Nigerian Police Force. I retired on October 1, 2008. My PFA is Trustfund Pensions. In April 2009, I was paid a lump sum of N6, 305, 247. 13. Half of this amount will be posted into my account and the remaining half will be with them growing for my next of kin. As at December 2016, the statement of my account with Trustfund Pensions read as N3,194,391.37. Those I retired with on the same rank of D.S.P with other PFA are paid same amount but their their balance is N4.5 million while mine is decreasing. Please help me out and investigate why my money is not growing with Trustfund.

    TRUSTFUND PRISCA: Dear Sir, we will revert to you soon.

     

    OGUNFOLAJU: Good day Madam, thank you for the great job you are doing for Nigerian pensioners vide your column on pension solutions in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesdays. I am Ogunfolaju. I retired from National Orientation Agency (Osun State) on June 4, 2015. I had earlier, on March 2, this year sent you details on my complaints on short payment of my retirement benefits. Big thanks for I am sure you would have taken action on it. However, I am yet to get a response from PenCom. Please note that out of all those who retired from NOA Osun State from Levels 10 to 15, I am the least paid both in lump sum and monthly payment. It’s quite saddening and frustrating. I went to Trustfund office. A level 10 officer got N2.3 million lump sum and N41,000 monthly pension while I got N1.3 million and N34,973 monthly. We were all employed in 1988. Please I still rely on you for assistance on solution to my short payment. Thanks

    TRUSTFUND PRISCA: Dear Sir, we will revert to you soon.

     

    JAPHET: Please, help me to ensure that Sigma Pensions trans-fers my pension to annuity. I have requested twice this year and on both occasions, I have been denied. The first time was on May 7 and second time was on July 24. All I was told is that they are waiting for approval from PenCom. Thank you.

     

    SIGMA FATIMA: Please be informed that the client in question has since been paid and has also confirmed receipt. Be assured of our best and loyal services always.

     

    LAWAL: I was verified by PTAD in November, 2015 in Katsina after complaints of not being on payroll and no pension arrears. I was asked to bring evidence of bank statement, which was done since 2017 through PTAD Kano and delivered to PTAD Abuja without any result. I complained again and it was discovered that they have no vital documents and I re-submited my documents. Please PTAD place me on payroll and pay my arrears.

    THE NATION: The Nation has intervened by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

     

    UMORU: I am very grateful to you for all your assistance that has yielded good result from PTAD that has placed me on full payment since June 2018 from short payment since 2010. PTAD is still owing me full salary from Oct. 2007 to May 2008 when we were not paid by hand nor through the bank; because we were not in commercial banks.

    I shall be grateful if you can help to press PTAD once more to pay me the arrears to enable me take care of my deplorable health, which the Doctor says is in danger as I have prostate cancer due for operation.

    THE NATION: The Nation has intervened by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.

     

    MICHAEL: Dear Omobola, kindly help us Federal pensioners to find out from the Head of Service and PTAD why the delay in paying us the balance of our 33 per cent pension for 13 months. The national budget was passed and signed since June and we are now in September. The issue of lack of fund should not be an excuse again. Thank you.

    THE NATION: The Nation has intervened by sending your complaint to PTAD. Do watch out for the newspaper publication next Wednesday for a response from the PTAD and subsequently every week for pension news.